You can refuse the Work Programme

WPN

In regards to free labour... many people group all kinds together which is incorrect.

A workfare scheme cannot be compared to an unpaid internship.

As for work placement abuses... this will continue. Claimants are receiving money from the state through statutory law (JS Act 95 etc.) whereas the providers are merely receiving money by contractual agreement. If a claimant do a deemed wrongful act they are sanctioned. If a provider does a wrongful act (thats not a crime) then DWP must sue for breach of contract. Much more costly and complicated. All "guidance" seems to state along the lines of "work placements should not [..]" or "providers should check that work placements to not [..]" rather than a more strongly "work placements MUST not replace existing or expected jobs [..]".

People might disagree but mandatory work placements through statutory law hold little weight with employers (I wont say this is insignificant though) as in effect (excluding the criminal record element) they are no different to community service.

Of course, if you have a decent employer whom is offering placements to give someone a chance where there is a 50/50 chance of a job opening; such experience is valuable... and it creates a glowing reference for employment. An employer, whom is not that which the placement is with is generally going to treat it as a pinch of salt. Any experience of work is incremental in merit but this directly compares against how strong other candidates are.

Firstly, the unemployed person must have been out of work for 6-12 months+ to get on to the scheme... this is a BIG period of unemployment - employers don't like that (of course, a few exceptions, some might be claiming whilst declaring part time work which keeps them in the routine of work, minimises periods of unemployment and creates an up to date reference). Then such experience was mandatory... thus unlike an unpaid internship you didn't commit yourself for experience, but simply had no choice... (although of course, some jobseekers would opt for work experience when they could). Then such experience is unpaid - meaning less responsibility and is without a contract.

"Work Trials" are different, but New Deal, FND, MWA and Work Programme etc. work placements are not usually highly looked upon by employers. Not all employers are abusing it with free labour (although many have vacancies filled non-stop by these jobseekers) but when it comes to workfare... the intention is more severe... community projects almost identical to community service... thats not helping anyone!

popadom

LadyMissA wrote: »

how do you get your £100 then as thats only paid to you when you get a job?

Ive signed off 3 times ,the first time is the only time i got the £100.

Bionik_Bonce wrote: »

the only reason you would not get this is if A) you do not meet the qualifying criteria or you have signed off incorrectly.

Qualifying criteria are

having an unbroken claim, and be receiving benefit for 26 consecutive weeks prior to fining the job.

Be starting work that is expected to last more than 5 weeks.

If you meet these criteria but aren’t getting it something is wrong and I would ask your JCP advisor why you aren’t receiving it.


QUOTE]
I dont know why, On one occasion i was on future for jobs ,25 hoursp/w min wage. I think about 125 pounds a week(maybe less/more) so i assumed it was as i was earning too much. I sign off on the phone and the jsa told me they tell the council for me. I assume im not entitled. Thanks for your help.

gothic_hobbit

So, once you are on this programme, what precisely is involved ?

Do you have to go to the providers HQ and sit there and rot for 30 hours a week just like New Deal ?

donnajunkie

Bionik_Bonce wrote: »

not under WP.

thats surpising. so people could end up going through the whole 2 years without doing a single days work? i bet the providers dont tell people this and say that they do have to do a work placement no matter what.

donnajunkie

Bionik_Bonce wrote: »

unfortunately this does happen and to say that it doesn't is simple lunacy. Like any system work placements can be abused by JSA claimant and by JCP and y employer, however not all placements end this way and that’s the point I wanted to make.

i agree not all do but most seem to.

donnajunkie

gothic_hobbit wrote: »

So, once you are on this programme, what precisely is involved ?

Do you have to go to the providers HQ and sit there and rot for 30 hours a week just like New Deal ?

i have been told its more similar to flexible new deal were you have an appointment once a fortnight. considering the number of people being refered onto it and it also lasting 4 times longer than new deal. there wouldnt be the room to accomodate everyone for 30 hours a week.

Birkonian

I have been unemployed for around 2 years (except for 8 week last year).
I was put on TNG (Training Network Group) and did an ECDL course for 13 weeks ending in May. I am about to be referred to this new work program.

Has anybody else been on this and what is involved?

Is it placements etc?

I know some companies such as Argos have people doing placements with them, as well as some charity shops.
Any feedback would be welcome.

DebiT

Birkonian wrote: »

I have been unemployed for around 2 years (except for 8 week last year).
I was put on TNG (Training Network Group) and did an ECDL course for 13 weeks ending in May. I am about to be referred to this new work program.

Has anybody else been on this and what is involved?

Is it placements etc?

I know some companies such as Argos have people doing placements with them, as well as some charity shops.
Any feedback would be welcome.

From what I have been told, it is very similar to FND whereby you attend once every two weeks and show them your jobsearch. I dont know if they make much of an attempt to help you find work though, the FND advisors didnt have the time, and I suspect as more people join this scheme the Work programme advisors wont have time either. Its just another attempt by the Government to massage the unemployment figures, and harrass people into signing off whilst at the same time handing public funds to private companies. You can learn more about it here: www.workprogramme.org.uk

donnajunkie

DebiT wrote: »

From what I have been told, it is very similar to FND whereby you attend once every two weeks and show them your jobsearch. I dont know if they make much of an attempt to help you find work though, the FND advisors didnt have the time, and I suspect as more people join this scheme the Work programme advisors wont have time either. Its just another attempt by the Government to massage the unemployment figures, and harrass people into signing off whilst at the same time handing public funds to private companies. You can learn more about it here: www.workprogramme.org.uk

they will try to get people a job. they just wont be very good at it. i imagine it is a hard job to persuade employers to take people they arent interested in. they usually employ people whose job it is to find opportunities. the advisers people see fortnightly dont do it.

donnajunkie

well i started today. it started off ok and gradually by the end i was thinking great the same old cr*p. got there for the required 1pm and got away at 3.40pm. it started off in a room were they went through the basics. we then had to do adult directions on the computer. after that we had to answer more questions alot of which were stupid. well not questions there was a statement and you had to select whether that applies to you or not. there were things like i do not want to work agree or disagree, lol. as if you are going to agree to that. how stupid do they think people are? are they trying to catch people out with questions like that? i then had to speak to an adviser who basically resorted to the kind of thing they used to resort to. i mean the you have no chance getting what you want so think of something else routine. they called my cv cr*p even though it was made by someone in that office only a few months ago. they are putting me in for a load of pointless sessions. i am no longer allowed to do my jobsearch at home. i have to do it there. they havent told me what the minimum requirement is that they expect of me. they just said i can go anytime between 3pm and 5pm. it was only from me questioning that i discovered this. she started by saying something that i have read other people here being told. she said you have to bring your applications in so we can see what you are doing.
she is going to phone me in 2 weeks time. i asked didnt you put a time in the computer as i had noticed this but didnt see exactly what time. she said yes but refused to tell me what it was and just said she will phone me sometime on that date. so basically being a t**t and making me sit in all day waiting for call.